Africa’s Kid crowned king - SuperSport - Boxing Africa’s Kid crowned king 05 November 2013, 14:44 Tweet When Hogan "Kid" Bassey won the world featherweight title in 1957 he caused a sensation. More than half a century later, Bassey is still remembered and revered as the first Nigerian to become a world boxing champion. And the story of his career is still one of the most enduring in African sport. In the first article of a new series on SuperBoxing, we look back on the career of one of Africa’s finest fighters. The articles, all written by RON JACKSON, have appeared in Sports Talk on SuperBoxing. Boxing enthusiasts can collect them as part of a treasure chest of charming stories and valuable information. Bassey won the title in Paris on June 24 1957 when he stopped Cherif Hamia in the tenth round. It was the culmination of a journey that began in a village called Ufok Ubet in Eastern Nigeria, where Bassey was born on June 3 1932.

The village was near Creek Town in an area called Calabar where Bassey had to help with the work on the family's small farm when he was still a little boy in a poor family. He soon learned to fight when he was sent to fetch water from as communal tap where there were always bullies trying to jump the queue. Fighting them off brought out a natural talent – the ability to use his fists. He was eleven years old when he was sent to live with an aunt in Lagos. That was where he began boxing at a local club. He was 16 when, in his first professional fight, he challenged for the Nigerian flyweight title. He eventually won the title when he defeated Dick Turpin over 12 rounds in 1949. Soon afterwards he won the Nigerian bantamweight title when he defeated Steve Jeffra. There was little money to be made by boxing in Nigeria so Bassey decided to try his luck in Britain. With financial help of a few friends, he arrived in a cold and damp Liverpool in December 1951. In his first fight abroad, in January 1952, he stopped Ray Hillyard.

He kept busy and had 18 fights in his first year in Britain. He won 14, and lost on points to John Kelly, Frankie Williams and Pierre Cossemyns, all good boxers. In 1953 Bassey had ten fights, including a stoppage win over the highly rated Spaniard Luis Romero. After a six-month holiday in Nigeria, Hogan returned to Liverpool decidedly heavier. He moved to featherweight and beat Sammy McCarthy, who had been unbeaten in his 28 previous fights. CROWNED AT KING’S HALL On November 19 1955 he fought John Kelly, an Irishman, for the British Empire featherweight title. They met in Kelly's back yard at the King's Hall in Belfast. Kelly had won their previous fight, in April 1952, on points. This time it was a different story. In his book Bassey on Boxing he wrote: “When I stepped into the Belfast ring I realised how alone I was in the vast hall thronged by Irishman. The cheer that Kelly received when he went to his corner was almost frightening. “Plans can so easily go awry, and they nearly did that night.

It was the bugbear of all boxers, the cut eye. It happened in the fifth round. My greatest fear was that the referee would stop the fight. “As I stepped towards the middle of the ring for the seventh round I knew I had to go in and fight. He [Kelly] had become a little over-confident ... As he came in, I feinted to throw a left hook and, just as I had hoped he would, he swayed to his left. “I put everything into a right cross that crashed against Kelly's jaw like a trip-hammer. I knew he had no chance of beating the count. Actually Kelly was down for five minutes before he fully recovered. I was the new British Empire champion.” THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONNECTION In 1956, taxation nearly crippled boxing in England and some small halls closed down. Bassey, by now a married man, was unable to get enough fights to make a living and found a job as a motor mechanic's assistant in Liverpool. In September 1956, he fought a young South African featherweight, Alby Tissong, who had been boxing in Britain for several years.

They met at the Liverpool Stadium, where Tissong had put up some fine performances. Bassey won on points over eight rounds and reporters described the fight as an “epic”. Shortly afterwards Bassey broke up with his long-time manager Peter Banasko and joined George Biddles from Leicester. Biddles began negotiating for Bassey to fight Elijah Mokone, the SA featherweight champion, but Bassey was refused permission to enter South Africa. A fight with Flash Elorde from the Philippines also fell through and Bassey became so despondent he considered giving up boxing. But then Sandy Saddler, the world featherweight champion, retired and the search began to find for a new champion. Biddles wrote to the British Boxing Board of Control to stake Bassey’s claim. But the board ruled that Bassey had to defend his Empire title against Percy Lewis. Bassey retained the title on April 1 1957. Then he had to fight a Puerto Rican, Miguel Berrios in an eliminator in Washington. Bassey was given almost no chance but he won on points over 12 rounds after being knocked down in the first round.

FIGHTING FOR THE WORLD TITLE On May 24 in 1957, at the Palais des Sports in Paris, he fought a Frenchman, Cherif Hamia, for the world title. After a quiet opening round, Bassey was knocked down in the second when Hamia caught him with a vicious right cross to the jaw. Hamia immediately tried to repeat the feat, throwing the right time after time while Bassey boxed sensibly. The Frenchman began to weaken and in the tenth round Bassey connected with a left hook to the jaw. To stop himself falling, Hamia grabbed Hogan around the shoulders and both went down. Bassey was up immediately, but Hamia was forced to take a short count. He was really in no condition to fight on but the referee let it continue. The Frenchman took a beating and was about to go down again when the referee stopped the bout. Hogan Bassey was the featherweight champion of the world, at a time when there were not four or five versions of titles in every division. Bassey needed a rest and went back to Nigeria. Thousands of supporters welcomed him home at Ikeja Airport. There was no rest for him.

Everywhere he went, he received a hero’s welcome. He was even awarded an MBE when he was included on the British queen’s honours list. On his return, Bassey fought in two non-title bouts, beating Victor Pepeder on points and gaining revenge over the Belgian Cossemyns early in 1958. He then had to defend his title against a hard-hitting Mexican, Ricardo Moreno. They fought in Los Angeles on April 2 1958. Moreno went straight after Bassey when the bell rang but the champion did not back off. They slugged it out in the first two rounds but in the third Bassey sent Moreno down and out with a left to the chin. It was the first knockout defeat for the challenger. Bassey received only four thousand pounds from the winner’s purse of 25 000 pounds after expenses and income tax had been paid. Bassey then had four non-title fights, stopping Jules Touan in the seventh round and the legendary Willie Pep, well past his best by then in the ninth before points wins over Carmelo Costa and Ernesto Parro. In his second title defence he fought Davey Moore in March 1959.

The first five rounds went according to plan. Bassey was well in the lead and Moore had suffered a cut on the cheek. At the end of the sixth round, just as the bell went, Bassey dropped his hands. Before he could turn away Moore hit him with several punches to the face, opening two cuts near his eyes. Hogan was so dazed his trainer had to lead him to his corner. Bassey always believed those punches after the bell cost him the fight and the title. He came to his senses only in the 13th round when Biddles asked for the fight to be stopped because of the cuts. Bassey tried to regain the title in August 1959 but Moore stopped him in the tenth after Bassey had been cut again. Moore died on March 23 1963, two days after losing his title in a fight with Sugar Ramos. Bassey retired after a ten-year career with a record of 74 fights, 59 victories, 13 defeats and 2 draws. He was appointed director of physical education by the Nigerian government in 1963 and for many years devoted himself to amateur boxing.

He also put his name to a teaching manual titled Hogan on Boxing . In 1980 he was part of the Nigerian coaching team that trained the country’s fighters for the Moscow Olympics. Bassey died in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 26 1998 at the age of 65. © supersport.com The 13th Round - View topic - JANUARY 26th Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:14 am Posts: 48953 Nice pic. Astor. I bet it looked just like that live. January 26 2002 Vernon Forrest upsets Shane Mosley by unanimous decision, to capture the WBC Welterweight title Philly scene. Gil Turner won a ten round decision against Pierre Langlois at The Philadelphia Arena on this day in 1954. The win raised Turner's record to 43-4 (30 KOs), as he continued his dalliance with the middleweight division.

Fighting a good ten pounds heavier than his natural weight, Turner was still trying to shake off the effects of his 1952 KO loss to Welterweight Champion Kid Gavilan. Some say he was never the same after that bout, but the crowd-pleasing workman from North Philly fought on for many years in both the 160 & 147 pound classes. He had many more high-profile fights, but never again did he contest for the title. 1969 - Bennie Briscoe KO8 Vincente Rondon at San Juan, PR _________________ Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:31 pm Posts: 23219 Location: We Miss You Buddy, Though You're Gone You Are Not Forgotten! Salvador Sanchez born in Mexico Salvador SanchezOn this day in 1959, the late Salvador Sanchez was born in Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico. Sanchez turned professional at the age of 16. He suffered his first loss at 18, a split decision to Antonio Becerra for the vacant Mexican bantamweight title.

That and a draw with Juan Escobar in 1978 were the only blemishes to Sanchez’s career. In 1980, Sanchez won the WBC welterweight title with a 13th-round stoppage of Danny Lopez. He successfully defended the belt nine times. His most memorable bout was with WBC super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Gomez, who was then undefeated with 32 straight knockouts. Sanchez dropped Gomez in the first round and consistently dominated the fight before it was stopped in the eighth round. On July 21, 1982, Sanchez defended his title for the final time; stopping future featherweight and super featherweight champion Azumah Nelson in the 15th round. He was killed in an auto accident less than a month later. His tragic death at the age of 23 has left boxing fans with countless “what ifs.�? Sanchez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. _________________ Ĩ ÁM ŚŤŔÁŶČÁŤ ÁŃĎ Ĩ ÁPPŔŐVĔ ŤĤĨŚ MĔŚŚÁĞĔ >^^< ŚŤŔÚŤ!

ScapposeJohn commenting on Shane Mosely possibly being unaware he was taking PED's wrote: Likewise. It reminds me of President Clinton saying that he smoked weed in college but never inhaled. Yeah..........right. ~~~~~~RIP Big Brandon~~~~~~ Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:31 pm Posts: 23219 Location: We Miss You Buddy, Though You're Gone You Are Not Forgotten! Passed Away On This Day 1998- Hogan "Kid" Bassey (June 03, 1932 – January-26, 1988) Nigeria's first world boxing champion. He was born Okun Asuguo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River in Creek Town, Calabar, Nigeria.[1] He took the name Hogan Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer. He possessed a tremendous heart in and out of the ring and that rarest of boxing skills - a true knockout punch. After 14 contests in Nigeria, Bassey went to Liverpool, England in 1952 and before long had impressed everyone with his pleasant manner outside the ring and his powerful punching in the ring.

After winning the Empire featherweight championship he also won the world crown by his defeat of French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris, France in 1957. He lost the title to U.S. American Davey Moore on March 18, 1959. Others he defeated during his career included Tommy Proffitt, Luis Romero, Sammy McCarthy, Billy "Spider" Kelly, Aldo Pravisani, Percy Lewis, Miguel Berrios (in a world title eliminator), Jean Pierre Cossemyns, Ricardo Moreno (in defense of the world title), Willie Pep, and Carmelo Costa. In 1959 he was awarded the MBE following his world title win and went on to become a respected coach in Nigeria who awarded him the country's highest honour in 1973. He died peacefully in the early hours of January 26, 1998 at his home in Apapa, Lagos. 1952- Vic Toweel W 15 Peter Keenan, Johannesburg. Retains World Bantamweight Title. 1986- Daniel Londas W 8 Hugo Carrizzo, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Junior Lightweight Bout.

1987- Darryl Thigpen KO 6 Jaime Garza, Irvine, CA. Featherweight Bout. Major upset! Former WBC world super bantamweight champion Garza falls to 44-2. 1988- Khaosai Galaxy W12 Kongtoranee Payakaroon, Bangkok, Thailand. Retains WBA World Super Flyweight Title. 1988- Napa Kiatwanchai W 12 Nico Thomas, Jakarta, Indonesia. Wins Inaugural WBC International Strawweight Title Bout. 1989- George Foreman KO 7 Mark Young, Rochester, NY. Heavyweight Bout. 1989- Harry Arroyo KO 2 Bruce "The Mouse" Strauss, Rochester, NY. Welterweight Bout. 1990- Aaron "Superman" Davis KO 3 Reese Smith, Kansas City, KS. Non-title Bout; Davis' NABF welterweight title was not on the line. 1990- James "Buddy" McGirt KO 2 Miguel Santana, Atlantic City, NJ. Welterweight Bout.

1990- Tom "Boom Boom" Johnson W 10 Anthony English, Atlantic City, NJ. Featherweight Bout. 1991- Robert Quiroga W 12 Vicenzo Belcastro, Capo d’Orlando. Retains IBF World Junior Bantamweight Title. 1991- Maurizio Stecca KO 5 Armando Juan Reyes, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy. Wins vacant WBO World Featherweight Title. 1991- Kamel Bou-Ali KO 1 Sylvester Kennon, Sassari, Sardegna, Italy. Non-title Bout; Bou-Ali's WBO World junior lightweight title was not on the line. 1991- Khalid Rahilou W6 Mourad Mezouari, Criel, Siene-Maritime, France. Junior welterweight Bout. Rahilou improves to 2-0. 1991- Steve Little KO 10 Mike Brown, Reading, PA. Super Middleweight (Little) vs. Middleweight Bout. 1992- Cecilio Espino KO 11 Luigi Camputaro, Indianapolis, IN.

Wins vacant NABF Bantamweight Title, 1992- Vince Phillips KO 3 Tim Brooks, Indianapolis, IN. Junior Welterweight (Phillips) vs. Welterweight Bout. 1993- Chris Pyatt W 12 Danny Garcia, Leicester, West Midlands, England. Retains WBC International Middleweight Title. 1993- Rodney Moore W 10 Livingstone (Ras-I) Bramble, Philadelphia, PA. Junior Welterweight Bout. 1993- Charles Brewer KO 4 Aaron Smith, Philadelphia, PA. Super Middleweight Bout. 1994- Anatoly Alexandrov W 12 November Ntshingila, Springs, Gauteng, South Africa. Wins vacant WBC International Super Featherweight Title. 1994- Harry Simon TKO 1 Leon Van Bensburg, Springs, Gauteng, South Africa. Junior Middleweight Bout. Simon's pro debut. 1995- Adilson Rodrigues KO 1 Mike Perkins, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Heavyeight Bout. 1995- Paulie Ayala W 10 Juan Mendoza, Shreveport, LA.

Bantamweight Bout. 1995- Ike Ibeabuchi KO 3 Ron McGowan, Shreveport, LA. Heavyweight Bout. "The President" improves to 3-0. 1995- Rocky Martinez W 10 Ali Kareem Muhammad, Rosemont, IL. Retains Illinois State Junior Welterweight Title. 1995- Andrew Golota KO 1 Dwayne Hall, Rosemont, IL. Heavyweight Bout. Golota improves to 22-0. 1995- Cedric Boswell W 4 Jordan Keepers, Rosemont, IL. Heavyweight Bout. Boswell improves to 2-0. 1996- Justin Juuko KO 7 Jackie Gunguluza, Brighton, Sussex, England. Retains Commonwealth Super Featherweight Title. 1996- Corrie Sanders KO 4 Keith Fletcher, Brighton, Sussex, England. Heavyweight Bout. Sanders improves to 28-1. 1996- Robin Reid KO 2 Paul Mason, Brighton, Sissex, England. Super Middleweight Bout. Reid improves to 17-0-1.

1996- Ryan Rhodes KO 3 Martin Jolley, Brighton, Sussex, England. Rhodes improves to 7-0. 1996- Montell Griffin KO 1 William Clayton, Dolton, IL. Light Heavyweight Bout. 1996- Irish Micky Ward KO 3 Alberto Alicea, Revere, MA. Welterweight Bout. 1998- Alfonso Zvenyika Lambarda KO 11 Paul Weir, Glasgow, Scotland. Wins vacant Commonwealth Flyweight Title. 1999- Montell Griffin KO 2 Availeo Slate, Harvey, IL. Light Heavyweight Bout. 2000- Craig Cummings KO 1 Tim Bryan. Kanis City, MO. Regains WBA North American Super Middleweight Title. 2001- Omar Narvaez W 4 Ricardo Ariel Toledo, Necochea, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Flyweight Bout. Two-time Olympian Narvaez improves to 3-0 as a pro. 2001- Mehdi Sahnoune KO 3 Wilfried Visee Rivelli, Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Oise, France.

Wins vacant French Super Middleweight Title. 2002- Vernon Forrest W 12 Sugar Shane Mosley, NYC. Wins Lineal, WBC, and vacant Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles. Referee: Steve Smoger | Judge: Tom Kaczmarek 115-110 | Judge: Melvina Lathan 117-108 | Judge: Julie Lederman 118-108. 2002- Arturo Gatti KO 4 Terron Millett, NYC. Gatti re-establishes himself as a top contender at super-lightweight. 2002- Sherman "Tank" Williams W 10 Alfred "Ice" Cole, NYC. Heavyweight Bout. 2002- Cristobal Cruz KO 11 Francisco Dianzo, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Wins vacant WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Title. 2002- Eric Ortiz KO 9 Pedro Gutierrez, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Light Flyweight Bout. 2003- Denis Inkin W 8 Siarhei Karanevich, Novosibirsk, Russia. Super Middleweight Bout.

2003- Ray Joval W 12 Francisco Antonio Mora, Schermerhorn, Netherlands. Retains IBO Middleweight Title. 2006- Tony Thompson KO 4 Brandon Cabell, Glen Burnie, MD. Wins vacant Maryland State Heavyweight Title. 2006- Maurice Harris W 8 Franklin Edmondson, North Charleston, SC. Heavyweight Bout. 2007- Lucian Bute W 12 Sergey Tatevosyan, Momtreal, Quebec, Canada. Retains WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Title. 2007- Pongsaklek Wonjongkam KO 4 Lito Sisnorio, Tak, Thailand. Non-title Flyweight Bout; Wonjongkam's Lineal and WBC World Flyweight Titles were not on the line. 2007- Chatchai Sasakul (formerly Chatchai Dutchboy Gym; formerly Chatchai Elite-Gym) W 6 Alfred Nagal, Tak, Thailand. Super Flyweight Bout. 2007- Mauricio Pastrana KO 8 Antonio Escalante, Cicero, IL. Wins WBO NABO Junior Featherweight Title.

2007- Stevie Johnston W 12 Tyrone Harris, Orlando, FL. Wins vacant IBA Lightweight Title. 2007- Marlon Hayes W 12 William Guthrie, Orlando, FL. Wins vacant NBA Cruiserweight Title. 2008- Chris John KO 7 Roinet Caballero, Senayan, Indonesia. Retains WBA World Featherweight Title. 2008- Alexander Povetkin W 12 Eddie Chambers, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. Wins IBF World Heavyweight Title Eliminator. 2008- Sebastian Sylvester W 12 Francois Bastient, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. Retains EBU European Middleweight Title. 2008- Jonathan Barros KO 2 Victor Hugo Paz, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina. Super Featherweight Bout. 2008- Derric Rossy W 12 Ray Mercer, Macao S. A. R., China. Wins vacant WBO NABO Interim and vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council Heavyweight Titles/Retains World Boxing Foundation International Heavyweight Title.

Born On This Day 1947- Miguel Angel Castellini (born in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina) Former Argentine professional boxer. Castellini, who was active as a professional from 1965 to 1980, is most notable for having held the WBA World Light Middleweight title. Castellini began his professional career on May 28, 1965 in San Miguel de Tucumán against Domingo Gerez. Castellini scored a second round knock out over Gerez to record his first win. He remained undefeated over his first thirteen fights before suffering his first loss to Hermogenes Quintela. Quintela knocked Castellini out in the tenth round of their fight on September 9, 1966. On November 4, 1972 Castellini won his first championship by beating Hector Ricardo Palleres to claim the Argentina Light Middleweight title. Castellini fought for the first time outside of his native Argentina on 25 May 1974, he travelled to Monaco to beat Carlos Alberto Salinas.

During his career Castellini also fought in Italy, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Nicaragua and Spain.[1] It was while in Spain that Castellini challenged for the WBA World Light Middleweight title, then held by Jose Manuel Duran, in front of a sell out crowd of 12,000. Duran, who was making the first defence of his title, was knocked down in the third round by a left hand to the jaw. Although the champion rose from the canvas, he was outworked by the faster challenger and lost his title via a split decision in a fight where both boxers finished with bloody faces. Castellini's championship reign only lasted one fight as he lost it in his first defence to Eddie Gazo on March 5, 1977. Gazo, fighting in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua, defeated Castellini via unanimous decision with scores of: 144-149, 144-148 and 143-148. This defeat was avenged, however, in a non-title bout on September 20, 1980. On this occasion Gazo travelled to Argentina to take on Castellini.

Castellini won the fight by knockout in the ninth round in what was to be his final professional fight 1959- Salvador Sanchez (born Salvador Sánchez Narváez in Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México) Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sanchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time.[1] He is also the uncle of Salvador Sánchez II. Sánchez started his professional at the age of 16, as a teenager (after a brief amateur career consisting of reportedly 4 amateur bouts) he started piling up wins against tough Mexican opposition. His first fight of note came in his 19th professional fight against the Mexican bantamweight champion Antonio Becerra. Becerra proved far too experienced for the young Sánchez, dropping him in the first round, en route to a 12 round split decision. This would turn out to be Sánchez's only loss suffered during his career.

Sánchez was knocked down for the first time against Becerra and has only been knocked down once more in the fifth round against Juan Escobar, whom Sánchez fought to a draw in his 22nd fight. Sánchez kept on fighting and moved to the Featherweight division. Soon he had beaten people like the Puerto Rican featherweight champion Felix Trinidad Sr., on his way to securing a title shot at world champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez, a popular TV fighter of the late 1970s who was an impressive fighter and had won some spectacular fights against the likes of former world champion David Kotei (twice), Juan Malvares and Mike Ayala. Confident and hard to beat, Lopez was beaten by the 21 year old Sánchez, who knocked out the defending champion in 13 rounds in Phoenix, Arizona, United States on February 2, 1980. Sanchez defended his title for the first time with a 15 round unanimous decision against Ruben Castillo (47-1). Thinking it was just a case of 'beginner's luck' (as it was Sánchez's first world title fight ever), Lopez looked for a rematch and this he got, in Las Vegas.

This time Sánchez defeated Lopez by 14th round TKO. In his next fight, he defeated Patrick Ford (15-0). On December 13, 1980, Sánchez defeated future champion Juan Laporte by unanimous decision. Sánchez then defended his title against Roberto Castanon (43-1-0) and scored a win over Nicky Perez (50-3-0). Then undefeated World Jr Featherweight champion Wilfredo Gómez (32-0-1) went up in weight and challenged Sánchez. Sánchez retained the crown by a knockout in round eight on August 21, 1981, in Las Vegas, and Gómez had to return to the Jr. Featherweight division. With that victory, Salvador was an unknown to the casual boxing fan no more. He became a household name all over the United States that night. In his next fight, he defeated Olympic medalist Pat Cowdell. His defense vs unheralded Jorge "Rocky" Garcia was the first fight featuring two featherweights ever to be televised by HBO.

He beat Garcia punch after punch, but the challenger gave honor to his nickname, an unknown fighter who lasts the distance with the world champion. On July 21, 1982, Sánchez faced future champion Azumah Nelson at Madison Square Garden. Nelson was unknown at the time however, and was expected to only go a few rounds with the champ. It was an intense battle, with Sánchez managing to drop his young charge in the 7th round. After that they engaged in violent exchange after violent exchange. In the 15th, Sánchez broke out finally, connecting with a serious combination that dropped the challenger almost outside the ring. Referee Tony Perez had to stop the fight seconds later. Azumah Nelson went on to have a glittering career and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, As he was training for a rematch with Laporte set for September, he crashed on the early morning of August 12, 1982, while driving his Porsche 928 sports car along the federal highway from Santiago de Querétaro to San Luis Potosí, dying instantly.

At the time of his death, there were talks about a rematch with Gómez or a challenge of world lightweight champion Alexis Argüello. Sánchez was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991 In the movie 21, Ben Campbell, played by Jim Sturgess, introduces himself to a girl as Salvador Sanchez. Folk Rock band Sun Kil Moon recorded an eponymous song about Sanchez on their 2003 album Ghosts of the Great Highway. 1972- Dana Rosenblatt (born in in Malden, Massachusetts) A left-handed professional boxer who held a variety of minor boxing titles. Rosenblatt began practicing martial arts at age 13 and earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do when he was 16. He also took up Judo when he was 16, and earned a brown belt. He began competing as an amateur kickboxer at age 15, and won the U.S. amateur middleweight title. He attended Bunker Hill Community College, and was an honors graduate. Rosenblatt became a professional boxer in 1992, at the age of 20.

He made $500 for his first fight, which was in Pikesville, MD. During his career he beat former U.S. Olympian Howard Davis Jr. and former junior middleweight champion Terry Norris. In 1993, for Rosenblatt's 15th fight, he wore a pair of trunks with the Star of David symbol sewn into them, harkening back to the legendary Jewish fighters of the 1930s like Benny Leonard and Barney Ross who started the practice. Today those trunks are on display in Philadelphia at the National Museum of American Jewish History. He started garnering serious attention after his first round KO of "The Irish Express," Sean Fitzgerald, 29–2–2, for the New England Middleweight Title on December 16, 1993. He then beat Frank Savannah, 15–1–1, by TKO for the World Boxing Council Continental Americas Middleweight Title. Next, he met Chad Parker in 1995 for the WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Title. Rosenblatt knocked out Parker in the first round.

His only professional loss came when 5-time former champion Vinny Pazienza knocked him out in the 4th round during a 1996 fight. At a press conference to announce a rematch, Pazienza's comments included demeaning references that even extended to Rosenblatt’s manhood. Rosenblatt later beat Pazienza in the 1999 rematch in a highly disputed split decision, winning the vacant International Boxing Organization Super Middleweight Title. During Rosenblatt's fight against Glenwood Brown in January 1997, he broke his hand. Rosenblatt won the fight, but spent the next 14 months recuperating before he could box again. On September 25, 1998, he defeated former 3-time WBC super welterweight champion "Terrible" Terry Norris in a unanimous 12-round decision, to capture the International Boxing Association World Middleweight Title. He defeated Will "Kid Fire" McIntyre, 36–4–1, in October 2000.

Then, a torn right shoulder rotator cuff, a separated left shoulder and torn labrum, a hand fracture, and several scheduling problems kept him inactive and caused him to drop out of the world rankings. He did not fight again until June 28, 2002. He retired from boxing in August 2003. He retired with a record of 37–1–1 (23). He was notable for being one of the few Jewish boxers active in the 1990s.[citation needed] Rosenblatt represents Countrywide Home Loans as a Home Loan Consultant in Peabody, MA, working with realtors, builders, real estate investors, and home buyers. He has attained a top ranking as a loan officer _________________ Ĩ ÁM ŚŤŔÁŶČÁŤ ÁŃĎ Ĩ ÁPPŔŐVĔ ŤĤĨŚ MĔŚŚÁĞĔ >^^< ŚŤŔÚŤ! ScapposeJohn commenting on Shane Mosely possibly being unaware he was taking PED's wrote: Likewise. It reminds me of President Clinton saying that he smoked weed in college but never inhaled. Yeah..........right.

~~~~~~RIP Big Brandon~~~~~~ Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:31 pm Posts: 23219 Location: We Miss You Buddy, Though You're Gone You Are Not Forgotten! Re: JANUARY 26th Champs Out of Africa - Hogan "Kid" Bassey by Ron Jackson 07/08/2001 When Hogan "Kid" Bassey won the world featherweight championship in 1957 he created a sensation as the first Nigerian to win a world title. Bassey won the world title on June 24,1957 when he stopped Cherif Hamia in the tenth round in Paris. The ordinary young Nigerian boy, born June 3. 1932 in a village called Ufok Ubet in Creek Town, Calabar, in Eastern Nigeria was now champion of the world. Times were not easy for young Hogan as he had to work on the family's small farm, in between going to school. Money was always being in short supply.He learnt to fight when collecting water at the communal tap in the village.

While waiting with the bucket in the long queue, there were always those bullies who would jump the queue. Hogan decided that no one was going to jump the queue on him and became involved in fist fights and found out that he had a natural aptitude with his fists. At the age of eleven he went to live with his Aunt in Lagos and started boxing at a local club and at the age of sixteen, challenged for the Nigerian flyweight title in his first professional fight, which he won when he defeated Dick Turpin over 12 rounds in 1949 and soon afterwards took the Nigerian bantamweight title when he defeated Steve Jeffra . With very little money to be made in Nigerian boxing, Bassey with the help of some friends who assisted with the cost of his passage, decided to try his luck in Britain and arrived in a cold and damp Liverpool in December 1951, making his debut in England in January 1952 with a stoppage win over Ray Hillyard. Hogan was kept very busy and had eighteen fights in his first year in Britain, winning 14, and losing only three fights on points against quality opponents like John Kelly, Frankie Williams and Pierre Cossemyns.

The year 1953 was not as busy, with Bassey having ten fights, which included a stoppage win over the highly rated Spaniard, Luis Romero. After a six month holiday trip to Nigeria, Hogan came back to Liverpool, having put on a lot of extra weight, so decided to campaign in the featherweight division. Despite thoughts that his small size would be a handicap, the move up to featherweight paid off when he beat the fancied Sammy McCarthy who had an unbeaten streak of 28 before meeting Bassey. The next big one was for the British Empire featherweight title in Belfast on November 19, 1955 against the Irishman John Kelly. Bassey had lost on points to Kelly in their previous meeting in April 1952, so he was facing the toughest challenge of his career, especially in Kelly's back yard at the King's Hall in Belfast. In his book "Bassey on Boxing" this is how he describes his fight with Kelly " When I stepped into the Belfast ring I realised how alone I was in the vast hall thronged with Irishman. The cheer that Kelly received when he went to his corner was almost frightening.

Plans can so easily go awry, and they nearly did so that night. It was the bugbear of all boxers, the cut eye. It happened in the fifth round. My greatest fear was that the referee would stop the fight. As I stepped towards the middle of the ring for the seventh round I knew I had to go in and fight. He had become a little over-confident and had been lured into my trap. As he came in I feinted to throw a left hook and, just as I had hoped he would, he swayed to his left. I put everything into a right cross that crashed against Kelly's jaw like a trip -hammer. I knew he had no chance of beating the count. Actually Kelly was down for five minutes before he fully recovered. I was the new British Empire champion". In 1956 taxation nearly crippled boxing in England with a lot of the small halls closing down.Having recently married, Bassey was unable to get enough fights to live and maintain a wife and home, so he was forced to get a job as a motor mechanic's assistant in a big firm in Liverpool.

In September 1956 Bassey met a young man who had been boxing in Britain for several years, Alby Tissong, the South African featherweight. He had built up a reputation for himself up and down the country. The match was made for Liverpool Stadium, where Alby had put up some of his best performances.The fight was won by Bassey on points over eight rounds in a what the press claimed as a boxing epic, something on par with the Nel Tarleton vs Al Brown contest at the Liverpool Football Ground some years before. Shortly after this Bassey broke up with his long time manager Peter Banasko and joined George Biddles from Leicester. Biddles began negotiations for a contest with Elijah Mokone the South African featherweight champion, but Bassey was refused permission to enter South Africa. A fight with Flash Elorde from the Philippines also fell through and Bassey became so despondent he even thought of giving up boxing.However, at last there was a break in the clouds when when it was anounced that Sandy Saddler, the world featherweight champion had decided to retire from the ring and so the the search for a new champion was on.

Manager George Biddles wrote to the British Boxing Board of Control staking the claims of Bassey, but the Board had other ideas. Bassey must defend his Empire title against Percy Lewis. On April 1, 1957 he succesfullly defended the title against the awkward southpaw. Next up was an eliminator for the world title against the Puerto Rican, Miguel Berrios in Washington, USA in a fight which the American press gave Hogan very little chance of winning. However, he proved them wrong and was a good points winner over 12 interesting rounds after being down on the canvas from a left hook in the first round. Now for the big one at the Palais des Sports in Paris, against the Frenchman Cherif Hamia on May 24, 1957. After a quiet opening round Hogan found himself on the canvas in the second when Hamia caught him with a vicious right cross to the jaw. The big shot had given Hamia a right hand complex which ultimately proved to his detriment. He threw his right on every concievable occasion, while Bassey concentrated on his boxing.

The Frenchman began to weaken as the fight progressed and in the tenth round, Bassey landed with a terrific left hook on the jaw and in his efforts to prevent himself falling, Hamia grabbed Hogan around the shoulders and brought them both down to the canvas. Bassey was up immediately, but Hamia was forced to take a short count. Hamia was really in no condition to continue when he got to his feet, but the referee let it continue. The Frenchman took a severe beating and as he was about to sink to the canvas the referee called it off and crowned Hogan Bassey the new featherweight champion of the world. After Hogan became champion he decide that he needed a rest and set off to his home country, Nigeria. Little did he know that there would be very little time to rest when he got home as Nigeria's first world boxing champion. Thousands of people welcomed him home when he arrived at the Ikeja Airport. Wherever Hogan went he was given a heroes welcome by thousands of people which at times became frightening for the new champion. Possibly one of the greatest moments in his life was when in the New Years's Honours List Hogan was awarded an M.B.E. by the Queen.

In two non title fights, Bassey won a points decision over Victor Pepeder and gained revenge over the Belguim, Pierre Cossemyns early in 1958 before facing the first challenge to his featherweight crown from the hard hitting Mexican Ricardo Moreno. The fight took place in Los Angeles on April 2, 1958 and in the first round Moreno came straight into Bassey, but Bassey was up to the task as he slugged it out with the challenger through rounds one and two. In round three Hogan smashed Moreno to the canvas with a shattering left hook to the chin, which sent him down to the canvas with no hope of beating the count. The crowd went wild, as Moreno had never been knocked out before in his career. As has happened so many times in the past the reported fancy purses that fighters are supposed to earn is not always true. For the first defence of his title Bassey only received four thousand pounds from a purse of twentyfive thousand pounds after expenses and income tax had been paid.

After the successful title defence Hogan had three non title fights, stopping Jules Touan in seven and the ledgendary Willie Pep who was far past his best in nine and then a points wins over Carmelo Costa and Ernesto Parro. Up next was the second defence of his title against Davey Moore in March 1959. With the first five rounds going to plan, Bassey was well in the lead and had Moore cut on the cheek, but it was at the end of round six that trouble came. The bell went and he dropped his hands , but before he could turn away Moore hit him with several punches to the face which opened two cuts near his eyes. Hogan was so dazed his trainer had to lead him to his corner. Bassey is adament that no matter what anyone says, those two punches after the bell cost him the fight, because after those two punches he only came to his senses in round thirteen when his manager George Biddles stopped the fight because of the cuts and the bleeding. Bassey tried to regain the title in August 1959 in a return with Mooore, but it was not to be. Once again his eyes were cut and Moore stopped him in ten.

Moore was to die tragically on March 23, 1963, two days after losing his title in a fight with Sugar Ramos. After failing to regain the title, Hogan decided that while he was still healthy it was time to get out of boxing after a ten year career with 74 fights, winning 59, losing 13 and 2 draws. Not yet 30 years old, what now ?. Should he use his garage experience and go into the motor business. However, while still deciding what to do an offer came from the Government of Eastern Nigeria to become the National Boxing Coach. One of his first tasks was to build up a team to represent Nigeria at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. On reflection Hogan felt that boxing gave him a lot in life and if he had his time over he would still be a professional boxer without hesitation. 1/26/12- Tokyo, Japan- Takuya Kogawa UD 10 Shigetaka Ikehara - Kogawa won the vacant Japanese Flyweight title. 1/26/12- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma- Grady Brewer UD 8 Edvan Dos Santos Barros - Junior Middleweight Bout.

1/26/13- Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires, Argentina- Yesica Yolanda Bopp Unan. Tech. Dec. 10 Marisa Johanna Portillo - Bopp retained the WBA Female Light Flyweight and WBO Female Junior Flyweight titles. 1/26/13- Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico- Hugo Cazares UD 12 Rey Perez - Cazares won the vacant WBC International Silver Super Bantamweight title. Ava Knight UD 10 Susana Vazquez - Knight won the vacant WBC Silver Female Flyweight title. 1/26/13- Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico- Romulo Koasicha KO-2 Eden Marquez - Koasicha retained the WBC USNBC Featherweight title. 1/26/13- Morelia, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico- Jorge Paez, Jr. TKO-9 Francisco Fuentes - Non-title; Paez' WBC International Silver Super Welterweight title was not on the line.

Felipe Orucuta KO-1 Fernando Lumacad - Non-title; Lumacad's UBO World Bantamweight title was not on the line. - Both fighters weighed in at 115 1/2. Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. TKO-3 Manuel "Chango" Vargas - Flyweight Bout. Robert Stieglitz KO-3 Michal Nieroda - Super Middleweight Bout. Lucas Matthysse KO-1 Mike Dallas, Jr. - Matthysse retained the WBC Interim World Super Lightweight title. Jermell Charlo KO-8 Harry Joe Yorgey - Charlo won the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title. Francisco Vargas KO-2 Ira Terry - Super Featherweight Bout. Jesus Soto Karass MD 10 Selcuk Aydin - Welterweight Bout. Chad Bennett TKO-3 Ben Ankrah - Non-title; Bennett's WBA Pan African Super Lightweight and WBO Asia Pacific Junior welterweight titles were not on the line. Jermall Charlo TKO-5 Josh Williams - Junior Middleweight Bout. Julian Williams TKO-7 Jeremiah Wiggins - Junior Middleweight Bout.

Julian Ramirez UD 6 Juan Sandoval - Featherweight Bout. Errol Spence TKO-1 Nathan Butcher - Welterweight Bout. Ĩ ÁM ŚŤŔÁŶČÁŤ ÁŃĎ Ĩ ÁPPŔŐVĔ ŤĤĨŚ MĔŚŚÁĞĔ >^^< ŚŤŔÚŤ! ScapposeJohn commenting on Shane Mosely possibly being unaware he was taking PED's wrote: Likewise. It reminds me of President Clinton saying that he smoked weed in college but never inhaled. Yeah..........right. ~~~~~~RIP Big Brandon~~~~~~ Hogan Bassey - WOW.com Hogan Bassey Efik Hogan "Kid" Bassey MBE (3 June 1932 – 26 January 1998) was a Nigerian - British boxer, he was the first man of Nigerian descent to become a world boxing champion. He was born Okon Asuquo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River, Creek Town , Calabar , Nigeria, and became naturalised British when he moved to the UK, where he spent most of his life in Liverpool . [1] He took the name Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer.

He was managed by and trained by George Biddles and Jimmy August. [2] Contents Boxing career After 14 contests in Nigeria , Bassey went to Liverpool in 1952. [3] After winning the Empire featherweight championship, he won the world crown by defeating French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris in 1957. He lost the title to U.S. fighter Davey Moore on 18 March 1959. Other opponents include Billy "Spider" Kelly , Percy Lewis , Tommy Profitt, Sammy McCarthy, Ricardo Moreno , and Willie Pep .[ citation needed ] Life after boxing In 1959 he was awarded the MBE [4] following his world title win and went on to become a coach in Nigeria who awarded him the country's highest honour in 1973. He died on 26 January 1998 at his home in Apapa , Lagos .[ citation needed ] Professional boxing record

Question: Name the Nigerian boxer who boxed in Liverpool from 1951, became the World Featherweight champion in Paris, in June 1957 stopping Cherif Hamia.
Answer: Hogan 'Kid' Bassey